Skopje, 11 November 2022 (MIA) - Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi, Minister of Local Self-Government Risto Penov and Regional Development Bureau head Ramiz Rexhepi attended Friday a ceremony for the signing of contracts for development projects in planning regions, set to be implemented with funds secured through the 2022 program for balanced regional development. The program envisages the implementation of 29 development projects in the eight planning regions in North Macedonia, estimated at over 422 million denars, said the government on Friday. "Development of our country is the goal and I hope these funds, which will be distributed today for each project, will be fully and reasonably used," said Bytyqi. The balanced regional development concept envisages continual financial state support and high level of coordination among the ministries, donors and the interested parties at regional and local level. "The balanced regional development policy is high on the list of priorities of the government, which is aimed at improving the well-being of the regions, reducing regional imbalance and improving the quality of living standards by achieving equal and sustainable development across the country," said the press release.